Chapter 26: Realization
After her last class, Lara decided to stop by the mall to buy a birthday gift for Lucas's mother.
Evelyn, her mother-in-law, had always loved designer bags. Lara had seen her collection over the years; luxurious, timeless pieces, each carefully chosen. Wanting to give her something she would genuinely like, Lara spent the next hour browsing high-end boutiques, examining different styles, colors, and materials before finally settling on a white Hermès Birkin. It was a safe choice, sophisticated and understated. Something Evelyn would appreciate.
Without hesitation, she took it to the counter, paid for it, and waited as the staff carefully wrapped the bag in its signature orange box. Once the transaction was complete, she took the shopping bag in hand and made her way toward the exit.
But just as she turned to leave, something across the walkway caught her eye. Lara slowed her steps, her heart hammering against her ribs as she took a closer look.
And then her feet stopped altogether.
It's Lucas.
There was no mistaking it.
For a moment, she thought she was imagining things. That maybe she was just seeing someone who looked like him. But no. There he was, standing by one of the glass display cases, his posture relaxed yet attentive.
And he wasn't alone.
The woman beside him was just as familiar. The same one from before. The one Lara had tried to forget. Her stomach twisted painfully as she saw Lucas' hand resting lightly on the woman's waist, his head tilted slightly as if he was listening to something she said. They looked comfortable. Familiar. As if they belonged in that moment together.
Lara felt like she had been punched in the gut. Her grip on the shopping bag tightened, her nails digging into the handle. She knew she should look away. She should leave before the inevitable pain settled in her chest like a dagger, twisting mercilessly. But she couldn't move. It was as if she was frozen, forced to witness the scene play out like a cruel déjà vu.
She had seen this before. Lived it before. And she had told herself she wouldn't be surprised if she saw them together again. She had braced herself for this. Convinced herself that seeing them again wouldn't hurt as much as it did the first time.
But she was wrong.
Because it still hurt like hell.
No amount of preparation could dull the ache that spread through her chest like wildfire.
She had been fooling herself. Telling herself that maybe there's still hope. That maybe Lucas would come around. That maybe, just maybe, there was still something left to fight for.
But this was reality.
A sharp sting pricked her eyes, but she refused to let the tears fall. With a deep, shuddering breath, she turned away, blinking rapidly as she wiped at the corners of her eyes.
She forced herself to walk, one foot in front of the other, each step heavier than the last. The further she got from that store, the harder it became to breathe. The lump in her throat tightened painfully, suffocating her. The noise around her faded into a blur. The laughter, conversations, the sound of footsteps against polished floors. All of it felt distant, almost unreal.
By the time she reached the parking lot, her hands were shaking. She barely managed to open the car door before slipping inside, placing the shopping bag on the passenger seat. Her breaths were uneven as she gripped the steering wheel tightly like it was the only thing keeping her together.
She caught her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her expression hollow, her lips trembling. She looked... broken.
God.
She lowered her head against the steering wheel, squeezing her eyes shut, willing the pain away, willing herself to be strong.
But it was useless.
A sob tore through her, raw and aching, her body trembling as the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.
She was tired.
God, she was so tired.
This marriage had drained every ounce of her. It had taken everything from her. Her patience, her self-respect, her dignity. She had given so much of herself, only to be left feeling empty.
How much longer was she supposed to endure this?
How much more of herself did she have to lose?
She had loved Lucas with everything she had, given him all the devotion her heart could offer. She had fought for so long, believing that if she just tried hard enough, if she just loved him enough, maybe, just maybe, he would love her back.
But love had never been the problem.
Lucas never wanted her.
Lucas had never given her a chance. He never tried to communicate with her. Had never tried met her halfway. And no matter how much she longed for things to change, deep down, she knew they never would.
Her fingers loosened their grip on the steering wheel as the weight of realization crashed over her like an unrelenting tide.
There was no saving this marriage. There never had been.
Maybe... maybe it was finally time to stop trying.
⫘⫘⫘
Lara drove home in a daze, her grip on the steering wheel weak, her mind clouded with thoughts she couldn't silence. The pain still lingered like a fresh wound, throbbing in her chest with every breath. By the time she pulled into the driveway, exhaustion had settled deep in her bones, her face still damp from the silent tears she had shed during the drive. Her eyes were swollen, her heart heavy.
That night, she made a decision.
She wouldn't run anymore. She wouldn't stay silent.
For so long, she had been avoiding the inevitable, afraid of the answers she might receive. But tonight, she was done pretending that everything was fine. She was done hoping for something that would never come.
She was going to talk to Lucas.
She wanted answers. A real conversation. A chance to finally lay everything out in the open.
Lara sat on the couch, waiting. The ticking of the clock was the only sound that filled the empty house. Every passing minute chipped away at the last fragments of her patience.
She checked her phone. Nothing.
Lara waited until midnight, her gaze flitting from the clock to the front door, hoping it would open at any moment. But it never did.
By the time the realization fully settled in, a bitter laugh escaped her lips. Of course, he wasn't coming home. He never did when she needed him the most.
Her grip on the phone tightened as she stared at the blank screen. Not a single call, not even a message to let her know he would be late.
A hollow chuckle slipped past her lips, laced with exhaustion and a familiar ache of disappointment. Why was she even surprised? Hadn't this been their routine for years? He always made her feel invisible, insignificant.
And yet, some foolish part of her had still hoped tonight would be different. But it wasn't.
When she finally dragged herself to her room, the silence of the house pressed down on her like a suffocating weight.
She curled up beneath the covers, her arms wrapping around herself as silent tears slid down her cheeks, soaking into the pillow.
She promised herself this would be the last time she cried over him. She swore that after tonight, she wouldn't let him break her again.
But deep down, she knew it wasn't that easy.